State of Stanford: USC Week

David Lombardi

11/15/2013

Stanford and USC are again set for what promises to be another epic clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Cardinal are still looking to put together the perfect game, and they hope that this trip to Southern California will bring them closer to that goal. Here's more from the team this week.

Winning Again Up FrontStanford's 21-14 victory over USC last year featured the debut of
the "Party in the Backfield," the raging sack fiesta that would
ultimately carry the Cardinal to their first Rose Bowl championship
in 40 years. Four violent takedowns and 60 minutes of relentless
pressure made Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley look like a rag doll.
The Farm Boys made a mockery of USC's offensive line on the game's
final possession, when they dropped No. 7 twice on their way to
forcing Lane Kiffin's squad into a last-gasp fourth down and 40
attempt.

Similar domination up front is certainly again part of Stanford's
formula for Saturday's showdown at the Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum. The Trojans should be better suited to defend themselves
this time around, though: They'll no longer be starting reserve
center Cyrus Hobbi, who
was traumatized by last year's experience.

"I was excited," Hobbi told the Los Angeles Times. "But I was like,
'Oh wow. My first college start: I didn't think it would be...
Stanford."

The outcome was gruesome -- at least from the Trojan perspective.

Now, Marcus Martin is new man in the middle of USC's retooled
offensive line. Last year's left tackle Aundrey Walker, who
struggled at his original position, is now at right guard. Max Tuerk
and Kevin Graf return to their stating roles at left guard and right
tackle, while Chad Wheeler is seeing his first career college action
at Walker's former left tackle spot. The new-look Trojan line has
already given up 23 sacks this season (they surrendered 17
throughout all of last year), but rushing production has remained
solid for them (4.8 yards per carry).

Despite the uptick in sacks allowed, Stanford coach David Shaw
thinks the unit has improved.

"Their offensive line is doing a good job of being steady, being
strong, being physical, and moving people," he said.

Whether or not that continues to be the case Saturday remains to be
seen. After holding USC to just 26 rushing yards last season, the
Farm Boys' pass rush surged through a turnstile at the center
position. It likely won't be as easy this year, but given the
position shifts and aforementioned statistics, it looks as if the
Cardinal will again have an edge up front, and that's the one
critical key they need to succeed in this game.

Jerry Rice's Focus on PerfectionAll three of Stanford's losses the past two seasons have come
after hard-fought battles the previous week. This year's setback
against Utah followed the gut-wrenching 30-28 victory over
Washington, while last season's disappointments at Washington and
Notre Dame came after thrilling victories over USC and Arizona.

The Farm Boys would like to avoid any semblance of a letdown
performance after their monumental triumph over Oregon. The pedigree
of their opponent and the sold out (for the first time this season)
Coliseum should be enough to take care of that worry, but players
and coaches have both indicated that last Thursday's sloppy finish
has also fueled the team's fire during this week of preparation.
Though they've come close lately, Stanford has yet to piece together
60 minutes of perfect football this season.

Center Conor McFadden told me that Shaw has used his conversations
with NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice to help Stanford's players zero
in on the task hand. Rice, at age 40, once told Shaw about his
burning desire to put together the elusive "perfect game," something
that he had always striven for but never completely attained.

"I think that's what we're trying to do here at Stanford," McFadden
said. "Everyday we're striving for perfection. And perfection is
basically impossible, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be the
goal."

Imposing a beatdown for a full 60 minutes is the Cardinal's next
objective, and it's one that's certainly popular with right guard
Kevin Danser. He glowed as he said that his unit "loves to beat the
crap out of" opposing teams with its smashmouth run blocking
approach. Continued commitment to the power run may give Danser yet
another chance to do what he loves this Saturday.

A Krispy Kreme GiftTyler Gaffney carried the ball a school-record 45 times against
Oregon, so it's unclear just how much Stanford will be able to rely
on him Saturday. The offensive line that's been blocking for the
Cardinal's running backs, though, should have ample fuel thanks to a
gift from Gaffney himself. No. 25 treated all the big boys up front
to a healthy portion of Krispy Kreme donuts this offseason, and
players have joked that the gift has served to generate intense
motivation for the line's run-blocking efforts. Gaffney, of course,
has seen significant return on his offseason investment: He's become
only the seventh runner in Stanford history to crack the 1,000 yard
mark in a season.

Gaffney, by the way, has the chance to become the first Stanford
player to ever score against USC in three separate visits to the
Coliseum. His current position coach Tavita Pritchard handed off to
him on a touchdown run in 2009 before Andrew Luck threw an opening
drive scoring pass to him in 2011.

Health NotesDevon Cajuste and Henry Anderson, both of whom are re-acclimating
after knee injuries, had excellent weeks of practice. Stanford may
not be far away from welcoming other players back to action. Shaw
said safety Zach Hoffpauir has "turned a corner" in his recovery
from leg injury and could be ready to return next weekend against
Cal. Nose tackle Ikenna Nwafor, who hurt his leg during the
Cardinal's win at Washington State, is beginning to go through
return-to-play progressions. There's a chance he may be ready for
the November 30 regular season finale against Notre Dame, but Shaw
noted that a return for Stanford's bowl game may be more realistic.

Are you fully subscribed to The
Bootleg? If not, then you are missing out on
all the top Cardinal coverage we provide daily on our
award-winning website. Sign up today for the biggest and best in
Stanford sports coverage with TheBootleg.com
(sign-up)!

\r\n\r\nWinning Again Up Front\r\nStanford's 21-14 victory over USC last year featured the debut of\r\nthe \"Party in the Backfield,\" the raging sack fiesta that would\r\nultimately carry the Cardinal to their first Rose Bowl championship\r\nin 40 years. Four violent takedowns and 60 minutes of relentless\r\npressure made Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley look like a rag doll.\r\nThe Farm Boys made a mockery of USC's offensive line on the game's\r\nfinal possession, when they dropped No. 7 twice on their way to\r\nforcing Lane Kiffin's squad into a last-gasp fourth down and 40\r\nattempt. \r\n\r\nSimilar domination up front is certainly again part of Stanford's\r\nformula for Saturday's showdown at the Los Angeles Memorial\r\nColiseum. The Trojans should be better suited to defend themselves\r\nthis time around, though: They'll no longer be starting reserve\r\ncenter Cyrus Hobbi, who\r\nwas traumatized by last year's experience.\r\n\r\n\"I was excited,\" Hobbi told the Los Angeles Times. \"But I was like,\r\n'Oh wow. My first college start: I didn't think it would be...\r\nStanford.\"\r\n\r\nThe outcome was gruesome -- at least from the Trojan perspective.\r\n\r\nNow, Marcus Martin is new man in the middle of USC's retooled\r\noffensive line. Last year's left tackle Aundrey Walker, who\r\nstruggled at his original position, is now at right guard. Max Tuerk\r\nand Kevin Graf return to their stating roles at left guard and right\r\ntackle, while Chad Wheeler is seeing his first career college action\r\nat Walker's former left tackle spot. The new-look Trojan line has\r\nalready given up 23 sacks this season (they surrendered 17\r\nthroughout all of last year), but rushing production has remained\r\nsolid for them (4.8 yards per carry).\r\n\r\nDespite the uptick in sacks allowed, Stanford coach David Shaw\r\nthinks the unit has improved. \r\n\r\n\"Their offensive line is doing a good job of being steady, being\r\nstrong, being physical, and moving people,\" he said.\r\n\r\nWhether or not that continues to be the case Saturday remains to be\r\nseen. After holding USC to just 26 rushing yards last season, the\r\nFarm Boys' pass rush surged through a turnstile at the center\r\nposition. It likely won't be as easy this year, but given the\r\nposition shifts and aforementioned statistics, it looks as if the\r\nCardinal will again have an edge up front, and that's the one\r\ncritical key they need to succeed in this game.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\nJerry Rice's Focus on Perfection\r\nAll three of Stanford's losses the past two seasons have come\r\nafter hard-fought battles the previous week. This year's setback\r\nagainst Utah followed the gut-wrenching 30-28 victory over\r\nWashington, while last season's disappointments at Washington and\r\nNotre Dame came after thrilling victories over USC and Arizona. \r\n\r\nThe Farm Boys would like to avoid any semblance of a letdown\r\nperformance after their monumental triumph over Oregon. The pedigree\r\nof their opponent and the sold out (for the first time this season)\r\nColiseum should be enough to take care of that worry, but players\r\nand coaches have both indicated that last Thursday's sloppy finish\r\nhas also fueled the team's fire during this week of preparation.\r\nThough they've come close lately, Stanford has yet to piece together\r\n60 minutes of perfect football this season. \r\n\r\nCenter Conor McFadden told me that Shaw has used his conversations\r\nwith NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice to help Stanford's players zero\r\nin on the task hand. Rice, at age 40, once told Shaw about his\r\nburning desire to put together the elusive \"perfect game,\" something\r\nthat he had always striven for but never completely attained.\r\n\r\n\"I think that's what we're trying to do here at Stanford,\" McFadden\r\nsaid. \"Everyday we're striving for perfection. And perfection is\r\nbasically impossible, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be the\r\ngoal.\"\r\n\r\nImposing a beatdown for a full 60 minutes is the Cardinal's next\r\nobjective, and it's one that's certainly popular with right guard\r\nKevin Danser. He glowed as he said that his unit \"loves to beat the\r\ncrap out of\" opposing teams with its smashmouth run blocking\r\napproach. Continued commitment to the power run may give Danser yet\r\nanother chance to do what he loves this Saturday.\r\n\r\nA Krispy Kreme Gift\r\nTyler Gaffney carried the ball a school-record 45 times against\r\nOregon, so it's unclear just how much Stanford will be able to rely\r\non him Saturday. The offensive line that's been blocking for the\r\nCardinal's running backs, though, should have ample fuel thanks to a\r\ngift from Gaffney himself. No. 25 treated all the big boys up front\r\nto a healthy portion of Krispy Kreme donuts this offseason, and\r\nplayers have joked that the gift has served to generate intense\r\nmotivation for the line's run-blocking efforts. Gaffney, of course,\r\nhas seen significant return on his offseason investment: He's become\r\nonly the seventh runner in Stanford history to crack the 1,000 yard\r\nmark in a season. \r\n\r\nGaffney, by the way, has the chance to become the first Stanford\r\nplayer to ever score against USC in three separate visits to the\r\nColiseum. His current position coach Tavita Pritchard handed off to\r\nhim on a touchdown run in 2009 before Andrew Luck threw an opening\r\ndrive scoring pass to him in 2011. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\nHealth Notes\r\nDevon Cajuste and Henry Anderson, both of whom are re-acclimating\r\nafter knee injuries, had excellent weeks of practice. Stanford may\r\nnot be far away from welcoming other players back to action. Shaw\r\nsaid safety Zach Hoffpauir has \"turned a corner\" in his recovery\r\nfrom leg injury and could be ready to return next weekend against\r\nCal. Nose tackle Ikenna Nwafor, who hurt his leg during the\r\nCardinal's win at Washington State, is beginning to go through\r\nreturn-to-play progressions. There's a chance he may be ready for\r\nthe November 30 regular season finale against Notre Dame, but Shaw\r\nnoted that a return for Stanford's bowl game may be more realistic.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFollow @TheBootleg\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDavid Lombardi is the Stanford\r\nInsider for The Bootleg. Check him out at www.davidlombardisports.com\r\nand follow him on Twitter @DavidMLombardi.\r\n\r\n

Are you fully subscribed to The\r\nBootleg? If not, then you are missing out on\r\nall the top Cardinal coverage we provide daily on our\r\naward-winning website. Sign up today for the biggest and best in\r\nStanford sports coverage with TheBootleg.com\r\n(sign-up)!

\r\n\r\n","mobileBody":" Follow @DavidMLombardiStanford's 21-14 victory over USC last year featured the debut of the \"Party in the Backfield,\" the raging sack fiesta that would ultimately carry the Cardinal to their first Rose Bowl championship in 40 years. Four violent takedowns and 60 minutes of relentless pressure made Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley look like a rag doll. The Farm Boys made a mockery of USC's offensive line on the game's final possession, when they dropped No. 7 twice on their way to forcing Lane Kiffin's squad into a last-gasp fourth down and 40 attempt. Similar domination up front is certainly again part of Stanford's formula for Saturday's showdown at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans should be better suited to defend themselves this time around, though: They'll no longer be starting reserve center Cyrus Hobbi, who was traumatized by last year's experience. \"I was excited,\" Hobbi told the Los Angeles Times. \"But I was like, 'Oh wow. My first college start: I didn't think it would be... Stanford.\" The outcome was gruesome -- at least from the Trojan perspective. Now, Marcus Martin is new man in the middle of USC's retooled offensive line. Last year's left tackle Aundrey Walker, who struggled at his original position, is now at right guard. Max Tuerk and Kevin Graf return to their stating roles at left guard and right tackle, while Chad Wheeler is seeing his first career college action at Walker's former left tackle spot. The new-look Trojan line has already given up 23 sacks this season (they surrendered 17 throughout all of last year), but rushing production has remained solid for them (4.8 yards per carry). Despite the uptick in sacks allowed, Stanford coach David Shaw thinks the unit has improved. \"Their offensive line is doing a good job of being steady, being strong, being physical, and moving people,\" he said. Whether or not that continues to be the case Saturday remains to be seen. After holding USC to just 26 rushing yards last season, the Farm Boys' pass rush surged through a turnstile at the center position. It likely won't be as easy this year, but given the position shifts and aforementioned statistics, it looks as if the Cardinal will again have an edge up front, and that's the one critical key they need to succeed in this game. All three of Stanford's losses the past two seasons have come after hard-fought battles the previous week. This year's setback against Utah followed the gut-wrenching 30-28 victory over Washington, while last season's disappointments at Washington and Notre Dame came after thrilling victories over USC and Arizona. The Farm Boys would like to avoid any semblance of a letdown performance after their monumental triumph over Oregon. The pedigree of their opponent and the sold out (for the first time this season) Coliseum should be enough to take care of that worry, but players and coaches have both indicated that last Thursday's sloppy finish has also fueled the team's fire during this week of preparation. Though they've come close lately, Stanford has yet to piece together 60 minutes of perfect football this season. Center Conor McFadden told me that Shaw has used his conversations with NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice to help Stanford's players zero in on the task hand. Rice, at age 40, once told Shaw about his burning desire to put together the elusive \"perfect game,\" something that he had always striven for but never completely attained. \"I think that's what we're trying to do here at Stanford,\" McFadden said. \"Everyday we're striving for perfection. And perfection is basically impossible, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be the goal.\" Imposing a beatdown for a full 60 minutes is the Cardinal's next objective, and it's one that's certainly popular with right guard Kevin Danser. He glowed as he said that his unit \"loves to beat the crap out of\" opposing teams with its smashmouth run blocking approach. Continued commitment to the power run may give Danser yet another chance to do what he loves this Saturday. Tyler Gaffney carried the ball a school-record 45 times against Oregon, so it's unclear just how much Stanford will be able to rely on him Saturday. The offensive line that's been blocking for the Cardinal's running backs, though, should have ample fuel thanks to a gift from Gaffney himself. No. 25 treated all the big boys up front to a healthy portion of Krispy Kreme donuts this offseason, and players have joked that the gift has served to generate intense motivation for the line's run-blocking efforts. Gaffney, of course, has seen significant return on his offseason investment: He's become only the seventh runner in Stanford history to crack the 1,000 yard mark in a season. Gaffney, by the way, has the chance to become the first Stanford player to ever score against USC in three separate visits to the Coliseum. His current position coach Tavita Pritchard handed off to him on a touchdown run in 2009 before Andrew Luck threw an opening drive scoring pass to him in 2011. Devon Cajuste and Henry Anderson, both of whom are re-acclimating after knee injuries, had excellent weeks of practice. Stanford may not be far away from welcoming other players back to action. Shaw said safety Zach Hoffpauir has \"turned a corner\" in his recovery from leg injury and could be ready to return next weekend against Cal. Nose tackle Ikenna Nwafor, who hurt his leg during the Cardinal's win at Washington State, is beginning to go through return-to-play progressions. There's a chance he may be ready for the November 30 regular season finale against Notre Dame, but Shaw noted that a return for Stanford's bowl game may be more realistic. Follow @TheBootlegTweet

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